Portable power unit



1, 1952 D. E. CUCKLER 2,614,433

PORTABLE POWER UNIT Filed April 28, 1950 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 IN V EN TOR. Z74 W0 .5. 6'00 #4 5/? Oct. 21, 1952 D. E. CUCKLER ,5 3

PORTABLE POWER UNIT Filed April 28, 1950 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 7 I INVENTO R.

Day/0 .ZZ ac/r45? Patented Oct. 21, 1952 t UNITED flYSTATES PATENT OFFICE PORTABLE POWER UNIT David Cuckler, Monticello, Iowa Application April 28, 1950, Serial No. 158,673

- '2 Claims.

This invention relates to an improved portable power unit for driving wagon unloaders, conveyors, and the like, having 'a novel and improved transmission mechanism.

It is among the objects of the invention to provide an improved portable power unit of the character indicated above which canbe conveniently placed on the ground adjacent to such as a wagon to operate the wagon unloader; which is of light weight and easy to handle and requires only a small amount of power for itsoperation, which can utilize an electric motor or a small internal combustion engine for its motive'power orprime mover, which provides a continuous slow speed forward drive and a more rapid reverse drive under selective manual control, which can oper-- ate with equal facility at either side'of a wagon equipped with an unloader, in which all of'the gears are completely enclosed and operate in a bath of lubricant, and which is strong and durablein construction, positive and ;efficient in op-' eration; and easy to connect to anddisconnect from an unloader drive connection j Other objects and advantages will become apparent from a consideration of the following description and the appended claims in conjunction with the accompanying-drawings wherein:

Figure 1 is'a diagrammaticperspective view showing a portable power plant illustrativeof the invention operatively'connected to'a wagon unloader mounted on a wagon; I

Figure 2 is a perspective view of the portable power unit; v

Figure 3 is a Side elevational'view'of the transmission of the portable power device, one of the side cover plates being omitted'an'd portions being broken away and shown incross 56017101110 better illustrate the construction, ofthe'transmission; V

Figure 4 is a side elevation of theopposite side of the transmission from that illustrated in Figure 3 with the corresponding cover plate removed;

v Figure 5 is a transverse cross sectional view on the line 66 of Figure 3;

Figure 6 is a transverse cross the line 6-6 of'Figure3;

Figure 7 is a cross 'sectionalv'iew on the line 1-1 of Figure 4;

Figure 8 is a side elevational; view of a fragsectional view on mentary portion of the transmission, showing a chain tightening device;and v Figure 9 is a transverse cross sectional view on an enlarged scale on the line 9-9 of Figure '7.

Referring in detail tothe drawings,-the illustrated wagon has an elongated rectangular bed I0 mounted on a suitablecframe supportedon steerable front Wheels H and fixed rear wheels and is provided with a towing tongue 13. The wagon bed is provided with end gates and with a gate l5 which is disposed transversely of the wagon bed or box and i adapted to be displaced longitudinally of the latter from the front to the rear end of the wagon box to push a load out of the rear end of the box, this gate being returned to the front end of the box after the unloading operation.

The movable gate [5 is supported in upright position in the wagon bed by brackets l6 disposed at respectively opposite ends of the gate and is movable rearwardly of the wagon bed or box by a pair of cables I1 and I8 attached each at one end to the gate l5 and wound on a roller is) journaled at the rear end of the wagon bed. A third cable 20 is connected at one end to the gate I5 and extends from the gate over a sheave 2| located at the front end of the wagon bed and extends rearwardly from this sheave to the roller [9 on which it is wound on in a direction opposite to that in which the cables I1 and I8 are wound on the roller.

With this arrangement, when the roller i9 is rotated in one direction the cables ll and [8 will be wound onto the roller and the movable gate l5 will be moved from the front to the rear end of the wagon box, the cable 20 being simultaneously wound off of the roller to permit this rearward movement of the movable gate. When the roller [9 is rotated in the opposite direction the cable 20 will be wound onto the roller and the cables I! and I8 will be wound off of the roller sothat the movable gate IE will be returned from the rear end to the front end of the wagon bed.

As the wagon and the unloader mechanism therefor being of any Well known'or desired construction and not constituting a part of the present invention except in combination thereof with the novel portable power unit, a more detailed description of the wagon and the unloader mechanism is considered unnecessary for the purposes of the present disclosure.

The portable power unitcomprises, in general, a frame 22, a prime mover or motor 23 adjustab'ly mounted on the frame, a transmission 2d and a belt and pulley assembly 25 drivingly connecting the motor 23 to the transmission 24.

The power frame unit comprises two spaced apart lower longitudinal members 2% and 27 intudinal members 28 and 27 at one end of the frame and ground engaging wheels 3| and 32 are mounted on this axle at the outer sides of the side frame members 26 and 21 so that the unit can be easily rolled from place to place over the ground.

A post 33 is secured at its lower end to the side member 26 adjacent the wheel axle 30 and while a corresponding post 34 is secured at its lower end to the side member 21 and projects upwardly therefrom. A rear leg 35 is secured to the end of the lower side frame member 26 remote from the axle 36 and is inclined upwardly and toward the post or front leg 33. A top frame member 36 is connected at its opposite ends to the upper ends of the front leg 33 and rear leg 35. A second rear leg 36' is connected to the end of the side member 2'! remote from the axle 30 and is inclined forwardly and upwardly toward the upper end of the post 34. An upper frame member, not illustrated, corresponding to the upper frame member 36, is connected at its opposite ends to the upper ends of the front leg 34 and rear leg 36, and two spaced apart, cross members 3! and 3-8 extend between and are connected to these upper side frame members.

Arectangular motor base plate 48 is mounted on the lower cross members 28 and 29 by four pivotally connected legs 4|, 42, 43 and 44. The two legs 4| and 44 are connected tothe cross member 28 near the opposite ends of the latter, and the two legs 42 and 43 are connected to the cross member 29 near the opposite ends thereof. At their upper ends the two legs 4| and 42 are pivotally connected to the opposite ends of a bar 45 on which one end of the motor base 40 is secured, and the legs 43 and 44 are connected to a similar bar, not illustrated, on which the opposite end of the motor base is secured. The leg 44 is extended upwardly to provide a handle, and a quadrant 45 is connected to the frame cross member 28 adjacent to the upwardly extended handle 44. This handle carries a spring pressed, manually releasable dog 46 engageable'in holes or recesses 41 in the quadrant to secure the motor base 40 in various positions of adjustment crosswise of the frame members 26 and 21.

The motor 23 may be, an electric motor, as illustrated, or may be a small internal combustion engine in case the use of an electric motor is not practical because of the absence of electric power facilities.

The transmission 24 is mounted in a housing having two opposite end walls and two opposite side walls, and a drive shaft 48 projects from one end of the transmission housing and'carries a V-belt pulley 49. A V-belt pulley 50 is mounted on the shaft of the motor 23 and the two pulleys are drivingly connected by a 'V-belt The speed at which the transmission drive shaft 48 is driven by the motor 23 can be manually varied to accommodate the operating speed of the power unit to different operating conditions by swinging the motor 23 side wise relation to the frame side members 26, 21 so as to vary the tension of the belt 5| on the pulleys 43 and 50.

The housing of the transmission 24 is formed in three separable parts and includes a continuous transverse wall part 52 of generally rectangular shape and two side plates 53 and54 disposed at the opposite sides of the wall 52 and secured to the latter by suitable means, such as the stud bolts 55. The wall 52 is provided on its underside with transversely extending cleats 56 and 5'! which are secured on the upper frame cross members 31 and 38, respectively.

For a more detailed illustration and description of the transmission unit reference may now be had to Figures 3 to 9, inclusive.

As is particularly illustrated in Figure 3, the side wall 52 of the housing is provided near the lower end of one of its ends with a tubular boss 60 through which the drive shaft 48 extends. An apertured lug 6| projects upwardly from the bottom of the wall 52 at a location spaced from the boss 6|) and receives the inner end of the shaft 48.

A combined axial load thrust and radial load ball bearing 62 is disposed in the boss 6| and is held against movement outwardly of the boss by an apertured cover plate 63 which receives the shaft 48 and is secured to the outer end of the boss by the cap screws 64. A lubricant packing 65 surrounds the shaft 48 and is secured in place by the cover plate 63 which prevents leakage of lubricant from the housing. At the inner end of the bearing 62 the shaft is provided with an annular shoulder 66 which bears against the adjacent edge of the inner race of the thrust bearing to restrain the shaft against movement outwardly of the housin A radial thrust ball bearing 61 is secured in the apertured boss 6| and receives a reduced end portion 68 of the shaft 48 to journal the shaft in the lug 61. A worm 69. is provided on the shaft 48 adjacent the lug -6| and this worm meshes with a worm wheel 1.8. The worm wheel 10 is'mounted on a shaft 1| which extends transversely of the housing and is jcurnaled at its respectively opposite ends in .bearing bosses 12 and 13 formed on the housing side plates 5. 3 and 54, respectively.

A second shaft '14 extends transversely of the housing at a 'locat'ionspaced'from the gear H and is 'journaled in bearing 'boss formations l5 and '16 on the housing side plates 53 and 54 respectively.

A pinion gear '11 is secured-on the shaft H adjacent to the worm wheel JD and rotates with the worm wheel. .A gear wheel '18 i rotatably mounted on thes'haft ll and .meshes with the pinion '11. Theworm wheel T6 is much larger than the worm 69 and the gear wheel 18 is much larger in diameterv than the pinion '11 so that .a speed reducing drive is provided from the worm shaft 48 to theshaft 14, whichisthedrivenshaft of the transmission, when the gear wheel '18 is.

complementary to the clutchteethfll onithe gear hub 19, the element 82 beingdriv-ingly connected to the shaft 14 for engaging and disengaging movement longitudinally :oflthe .shaft by .keys .84 and recived'inkey slots provided in theshaft 14 at diametrically .oppositesidespf the lattenand received .in corresponding Ekeyways provided .in

the'clutch element '82.

The keys 84 and 8.5- are notched at :their opposite ends to receive :rings 85 and.8:'| Ito-secure the keys in position on the shaft 14.- vA ring .86 adjacent tolthe gearlhub 18 is .pinnedto the shaft extending along the shaft 14 toward: theside plate 54-. A spacing washer- 9| surroundszthe'shaft. 14 between the hub 99 andthebearing iooss I6 and isconnectible with-the ring 96 through the cone clutch hub 99,'the:ring 8'I, andthe-keys 84' and 95. This arrangement maintains the shaft I4 again t longitudinal movement relative to the side plates of thehous'in'g." The spacer ring 9| is pinned to the shaft 94 by a through pin 92 extending diametrically. through the spacer ring andtheshaft.

A lug 93 extends upwardly from the bottom of the housing sidewall 52 and is pro vided at its upper or inner end with *a bearing; aperture. A clutch operating shaft 94 is journaled in the aperture inthe lug 93 and extendsthrough an apertured' boss 95 on the end wallzof the housing'iwall 52 opposite the end wall providedwith the boss 69 through which the shaft 49 .extends. Ahandle 99 is fixed to theshaft 94 at the outer side ofxthe housing wall 52 and a clutch operating fork 9'! is fixed on this shaft at the side of the lug 93 remote from the boss 95 and partly surrounds the clutch element 82. The clutch element-82 is provided intermediate its length with an annular groove 98 and the clutch fork is provided with pins 99 and I99 which engage in the groove 99 whereby the clutch element is moved longitudinally of the shaft I4 when the handle 96 is rocked in one direction or the other.

When the handle 96 is rocked in one direction the clutch element 82 is moved to engage its dog clutch teeth 33 withthe dog clutch teeth 8| of the gear wheel I8 to drivingly connect the gear wheel I8 to the shaft I4. Under these conditions, rotawhich is enga'geable withthe cone element 89 when the handle 96 is rocked in the direction opposite that effective to engage the dog clutch teeth SI and 83. When the cone III is engaged with the cone clutch element 99 the sprocket wheel I99 is drivingly connected to the shaft 14 to drivethe'shaft I4 in a reverse direction and at a higher speed than that in'which the shaft is driven by the gear wheel 19.

The sprocket wheels and drive chain thus provide ahigh speed reverse drive for the shaft I4 to rapidly return the unloading gate I5 from the rear to the frontend of the wagon box, and the cone clutch provides a safety featurein that'it will slip andtavoiddamageto the mechanism if the movable gate reaches the front end of the wagon box before the motor 23 is shut off.

When the handle 96 isplaced in its center or neutral position, neither the cone clutch nor the dog clutch is engaged and the shaft 14 is then freely rotatable in the housing. This facilitates connecting the portable power unit with the unloader mechanism and alsoprovides a means for discontinuing the drive when desired. I

.A chain tightener is provided for the drive chain I I9 and comprises a shaft H2 journaledin a boss provided on the side plate 54, an arm II 3 secured at one end to the shaft H2 at the inner tion of the transmission drive shaft 48 by the mov tor '29 will drive the shaft I4 at a reduced speed in a forward direction.

The shaft I4 is provided externally of the housing side plates 53 and 54 with squared ends WI and I92 and a squared sleeve I93 is mountable on either one of these squared ends. A universal joint I94 is carried by the squared sleeve I93, and a second universal joint I95 is drivingly connected to one end of the unloader roller I9. A longitudinally extensible drive shaft I96 is connected between the universal joints I94 and I95 to provide a driving connection between the shaft I4 and the roller I9.

The above described mechanism is operative to move the unloader gate I5 in an unloading direction when the clutch is engaged to connect the side of the housing side plate, and a roller II4 journaled on the,distal end of the arm H3 and bearing against the under side'of the chain H9. An arm H5 is secured at one end to the end of shaft H2 at the outer side of the side plate 54 and is provided at its distal end with an elongated, arcuate slot II9. A headed stud bolt III extends through the slot I I9 and is threaded into a tapped hole in the side plate 54 to clamp the arms H5 and 3m adjusted position to apply the proper amount of chain tightening pressure between the roller 4 and the chain II9.

Suitable filler, drain and oil level plugs are provided in the housing 24 for maintaining the proper quantity of lubricant therein, the filler plug being indicated at I I8 in Figure 2.

Where the motor provided for the power unit is an electric motor, as illustrated, a foot operated start and stop switch I29 may be connected into the motor energizing circuit and positioned for convenient operation by the operator of the power unit so that the power unit can be started and stopped as may be desired.

A rack I29 is pivotally connected to the frame adjacent the axle 39 and may be swung from a position against the front legs 33 and 34 to a position in which it extends outwardly from the axle end of the frame to receive weights for gear wheel I8 to the shaft I4 and the motor 23 is in operation.

A sprocket wheel I 97 is fixed on the shaft I I and i3 drivingly connected to the shaft II by a key I98 which may also be used to drivingly connect the worm gear I9 to this shaft, and a chain sprocket wheel I99 is provided on the hub 99 of the cone clutch element 99 which cone clutch element is freely rotatable on shaft I4.

A sprocket chain II9 connects the sprocket wheel I91 with the sprocket wheel I99 and continuously drives the cone clutch element 89 while the motor 23 is in operation.

The sprocket wheel I9? is materially larger than the sprocket wheel I99 to provide a speed increasing drive between the shaft II and the shaft 14.

The clutch element 92 has a cone portion III counterbalancing excessive torque developed by the power unit.

The invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the spirit or essential characteristics thereof. The present embodiment is, therefore, to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive, the

scope of the invention being indicated by the apsa-mess shaft rotatably mounted on said third "shaft, a

chain drivingly connecting the s'procketwh'eel .on 'said'second shaft'with the sprocket'wheel on said tliii' d shaft, clutch 'm'e'ansmou-nted on said third "shaft "and selectively engageable with the gear wheland sprocket wheel mounted on said third -'sh'aft to drivingly connect either said gear wheel or said sprocket wheel tosai'd thirdshaft, and manually operative means eo'r'mecte'd to said clutch means 'and pr'oj ecting fromsaid housing.

2. In a por'tablepowerunit a transmission unit comprising *a closed 'housin'g, a drive shaft 'j'our'naled in said housing and projectirigtherefrom, a second-shaft journaled"in said housing adjacent said driv'eshaft; a speed reducing-drive between said drive and second shafts, 'a "third shaft journaled in said*housin'g at a location spaced from said secon'dshaft, 'a 'two way clutch assembly on said third shaftpa speed reducing drive between said second shaft "and said clutch assembly, asp'eed increasing drive between said second shaft and said clutch assembly effective when drivingly connected to said third shaft .to :drive the latter in "a direction opposite that in which said third shaft is driven by said speed reducing drive whenoperativelyconnectedto said thirdsshaft and manually I operated means connected to said :clutch assembly and projecting from said .housing for actuating said clutch assembly xto drivingly' connect either said; speed re- 'ducing drive orrsai'd speed increasing: drive to said third'shaft.

DAVID REFERENCES "DI-TED The following references are of record in=the file or this patent:

UNITED STATES 'PASIYENTS Number Name Date 1,949,015 .Hallenbie'ck Feb. '27, 41934 12314549 :Milbrath Mar. 23,1943 $446,645 Flinchbaugh vAug. 10, 19,48 '2;47'7,065 .Kuertet a1. ,July 26, 1949 2 ,522,960 VPric'e..v. .Sept. 19, 1950 LEOREIGNTPATENTS Number Country Date =410,283 Germany, -Mar. 7,1925 889,890 France. .Jan. 21, 1944 

